Awards update

We’ve got used to winning at the Free From Awards (we were ‘Best Brand’ last year), and have always done well with our entries. This year’s awards took place in early July at the ‘Love Natural Love Organic Show’, with the prizes being presented by Radio 2 personality and long-time promoter of all things natural and organic, Janey Lee Grace.

Unfortunately there was no gold for Botanicals this year – but we did win silver in the ‘Problem skin’ category with our Soothing salve. And our Nourishing face balm won bronze in the ‘Face care (leave on)’ category. So considering the number of entries from virtually every producer of natural skin care products (and there’s an awful lot of us), that’s still pretty good going – even if we say so ourselves!

The essential oils of rose, lavender and ylang ylang make the experience soothing and therapeutic. Our salts come with an attractive wooden scoop making them a perfect gift. Simply add a heaped spoonful to running water and enjoy for 20 to 30 minutes. Bath-time bliss!read more…

Botanicals won the prestigious ‘Best Brand’ in last year’s ‘FreeFrom’ Awards. And we’ve just heard the exciting news that four of the five products we submitted for this year’s awards have been shortlisted. We’ve also been shortlisted again for this year’s Best Brand Award. Which is fantastic!

The awards were created in 2012 by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson and Alex Gazzola to reward manufacturers of skincare products that are ‘free from’ many of the allergens, ingredients, additives and artificial fragrances associated with skin sensitivities, health concerns, and which also meet the highest standards of ethical, personal and environmental issues.

All the entries to the awards have undertaken a vigorous two month trial by a 100-strong panel of experienced Beauty Bible testers. So it’s great that we’ve had four products shortlisted from so many products. Now it’s up to the judges to decide who will be the winners in each category.

“The shortlist includes only products which performed well on a day to day basis and offered longer term benefits too.” Alex Gazzola, Awards co-ordinator

It’s always great to receive customer reviews on our products. But in many ways, it’s even more interesting and valuable to hear the views of independent testers.

Our customers will usually know our products and like what they offer. For many independent reviewers, it will often be the first time they have have tried them. And they will also be comparing them to a whole range of similar products – with a particularly critical eye.

All three of the products we entered for the 2014 FreeFrom Awards won silver. We were told they all missed out on the top prize by just one or two marks. But since we won ‘Best Brand’, we really can’t complain. Here’s a selection of the independent testers’ comments on our Revitalising body polish: (View the product on our website.)

“Great morning shower product but a real luxury too! In my opinion it was just right; the crystals are said to penetrate deep into the skin and stimulating tissue. I would say this is a very accurate account. Sometimes beads or crystals can scratch the skin – this one didn’t! No irritation or sensitivity experienced. I would buy this product.

Many thanks to everyone who sent us messages of congratulations following our gold-plated success at last week’s FreeFrom Awards. Getting the ‘Best Brand Award’ was the most important prize and accolade. But winning silver for all three products we entered was also just amazing. Especially considering there were more than 260 entries from over 100 brands.

“Botanicals are deserved winners of the Best FreeFrom Brand 2014. They produce beautiful handmade products, in which natural botanicals and plants are allowed to shine.

Our judges admired the purity of the formulations, their labelling, their whole ethos and philosophy, and their shortlisted products performed exceptionally well during month-long testing – both this year and last year, in fact.

I think we would struggle to find any product among the Botanicals range which was less than excellent.”

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that Botanicals has won the ‘Best FreeFrom Skincare Brand’ award for 2014. This prestigious award was presented to Wendy by Radio 2 broadcaster and best-selling author, Janey Lee Grace, at the ‘Love Natural, Love Organic Show’ in London yesterday.

Selected from a long and illustrious list of companies offering natural skin care products – including Green People, Weleda, Neals Yard Remedies, and even Waitrose – here’s what the judges said about Botanicals:

“Beautiful handmade products, in which natural botanicals and plants are allowed to shine, and which always perform exceptionally well in testing. A 10th anniversary redesign has modernised this vegan and organic brand. Bronze medallists in this category in 2013, they are deserved winners in 2014.

We entered three products for this year’s ‘FreeFrom Skincare Awards’, and we’re delighted to announce that all three have been shortlisted.

This means they’ve been selected from many other natural skincare products as potential prize-winners. And will now be sent on to a team of 10 Beauty Bible testers for a month-long, in-depth evaluation.

Last year we entered three products and won two silver awards, and had another shortlisted. We also won a Best Brand award. So our record so far has been pretty good.

Great news! We entered three products for the ‘Free From Skincare Awards’, and won silver with two of them. And also came away with a bronze award for the best skincare brand. Which – considering the number of products and size of companies taking part – was a pretty good result. Even if we do say so ourselves!

The winners were announced yesterday at The Allergy & Free From Show, which is taking place in London’s Olympia Exhibition Centre. The prizes were presented by well-known beauty broadcaster and blogger, Janey Lee Grace (pictured far right with yours truly).

Our Chamomile & mandarin anti-ageing serum came a frustratingly close second in this year’s Natural & Organic Awards which were announced last Sunday at the Natural & Organics Show in London’s Olympia. We were told that there was just half of one percent between the two finalists!

Sponsored by the Soil Association, the awards are the UK’s most important and prestigious competition for natural and organic skin care products. They’ve become a benchmark for excellence, setting the standard for innovation, quality and commitment in the natural and organic sector. And Botanicals has an unrivalled record.

Back in 2010, we were the first company to win the two major awards, with our Rose & camellia cleansing melt taking best organic skin care product, and our Natural foot balm winning best organic body care product. In 2011 our ever-popular foot balm was finalist in the best organic body care section. But last year we missed out because we hadn’t realised that the rules had changed, and submitted the wrong-size products :-(.

The shortlisted products will now go forward for in-depth, month-long assessment by testers from Award-partners, The Beauty Bible, and their detailed feedback will be used to draw up lists of winners and runners-up in all ten categories – plus an additional award for Best Brand, and of course Best Overall Free From Skincare Product – to be announced at the Allergy and Free From Show at Olympia on 7th June 2013, presented by Janey Lee Grace.

The Free From Skincare Awards were founded to encourage and reward manufacturers of skincare products that are ‘free from’ many of the allergens, chemicals, additives and artificial fragrances associated with skin sensitivities and health concerns.